Garment-hanger.



PATENTED OCT. 8, 1907.

J. F. WILLIAMS. GARMENT HANGER. APPLICATION FILED D110 28 1906 J'QE W/m/z's.Z;.--

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UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE.

JOHN F. WILLIAMS, OF SANDUSKY, OHIO.

GARMENT-HANGER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN F. WILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States residing at Sandusky, in the county of Erie and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Garment-Hangers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to hangers or stretchers for garments and the like, and has for its object to provide a device of this kind that is particularly cheap and effective in operation; that may be quickly applied to and removed from the garment with which it is to be employed; that will firmly retain the garment in place without producing any markor crease in the material at or in the vicinity of the support.

Generally speaking, the invention may be defined as consisting of the combinations of elements, for the purposes specified, embodied in the claims annexed hereto.

In the drawings forming part of this application, Figure 1 represents a perspective view showing one I form of my invention applied to a pair of trousers; Fig.

2 represents a sectional detail of the invention shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the manner of applying one form of my invention to a garment, as a pair of trousers; Fig. 4 represents a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of a modified form of my invention; Fig. 5 represents a sectional detail of the device shown in Fig. 4; Figs-6 and 7 represent views, corresponding to Figs. 4 and 5, of a still further form of my invention; Fig. 8 represents an elevation of a modified form of hanger; Figs. 9 and 10 represent perspective views illustrating the manner in which my invention may be combined with a coat hanger; and Fig. 11 repre- ,sents a perspective view of a form of clamp to be used as part of the hanger constituting my invention.

Describing the parts by reference characters and referring first to the modification of my invention shown in the first three figures of the drawings,1 represents the suspending, or supporting, member of the complete hanger or stretcher, and 2 the clamps which are to be employed therewith. The former element is shown as being generally of the form of a triangle and is made preferably of wire, although it may be made of wood, in which case it may be made in the form of an equilateral triangle provided with a perforation 3 in each corner thereof, whereby it may be quickly applied to the garment and then hung from a hook' or other convenient support. The element 1 may be made of any desired size, being shown as of sufficient extent to permit it to be readily applied to and between the bottoms of a pair of trousers legs.

Co-acting with the element 1 are the clamps 2, each of said clamps comprising an upper body portion and a pair of legs, the lower inner surfaces of which diverge to permit them to be applied to the trousers legs in the manner shown in Fig. 2.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 28, 1906. Serial No. 349,800.

Patented Oct. 8, 1907.

In the form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the sides 4 of the triangular member or element are somewhat steep from the vertex thereof to a point ad- 'jacent to the base thereof, where they are extended laterally to form arms 5. Clamps 2 are mounted on the sides 4 and are free to slide thereon to permit the hanger or stretcher to be applied to the garment. In so applying the hanger or stretcher, clamps 2 will be slid upwardly on wires 4, the vertex of the member 1 will be inserted between the opposite portions of the garment, clamps 2 applied thereto as indicated and the member 1 then pushed a greater distance between the portions of the garment to cause the arms 5 to wedge the opposite thicknesses of cloth into contact with the lower inner surfaces of the clamp legs, thereby forming a firm clamping means for suspending the trousers, or other garment, from the hanger. The wedging action is facilitated by the fact that the wire of member 1 isrounded (with the exception to be noted hereinafter), presenting a rounded orbeveled surface to the adjacent portions of cloth, as shown more particularly in Fig.2 At the same time, it will be evident that the upward inclination of the edges of member 1 tends to separate the clamps and to exercise a stretching effect upon the garment supported by the hanger. While the hanger is shown as applied to the bottoms of the trousers legs, it will be evident that it may be applied in similar manner to any other portion of the trousers, or garment, and will serve to support and stretch the same. To facilitate the application of the clamps to the garment, the side wires 4 are flattened in the plane of the member 1 to prevent the wedging action referred to until such time as the clamps reach the lateral arms 5 which, being rounded, insure the wedging of the cloth against the clamps.

In Fig. 3 the member 1 is of wood, as previously described and the sides thereof have beveled edges which, when said member has been inserted a sufficient distance between the opposite portions of the garment, wedge the same against the legs or branches of the clamps which are applied to the said garment before the application of the member 1 thereto.

In Figs. 4 and 5 there is illustrated a modification of the device shown in Figs 1 to 3 inclusive. In these figures, 6 represents a hanger or supporting member, which may be made of wire having formed therein an open loop 7 for suspending the same and the garment to which it is applied from a hook or other support. The said hanger 6 is provided at opposite ends thereof with downwardly extending arms 8, the wire of which the hanger is composed being preferably looped at 9 to form springs which normally hold the arms 8 in the positions shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. The lower end of each of these arms is provided with a tapering enlargement, which may be conveniently formed by bending the end of the arm 8 upon itself, as indicated at 10. The clamps 2 may be conveniently carried site thicknesses of the cloth. when a coat or other garment is supported on 12, the

by the arms 8, as by having the arms inserted through a perforation in the body of each of said clamps prior to forming the enlargement 9 thereon.

In applying the device shown in Figs. 4 and 5 to a garment, the arms 8 may be bent downwardly to a nearly vertical position, the clamps slipped upwardly thereon and then applied to the garment inthe manner shown in Fig. 5, after which the suspending portion of the hanger will be drawn upwardly, causing the beveled enlargements 10 to wedge the cloth against the lower inclined surfaces of the clamp members 2. By this construction, the garment is not only supported, but the springs 8 exercise a stretching action upon the same.

Figs. 6 and 7 represent another modification of my invention, wherein the suspending device 6* is provided with an open loop 7, arms 8, and springs 99, similar to the correspondingly numbered parts in Figs. 4 and 5. In this modification, however, the clamps 2 are rigidly supported on the ends of the arms 7, as by being threaded thereon. The cooperating members in this case may be pieces of heavy cord or small rope 1.1, each having one end secured to a'fiXed part of the hanger, as the spring loop 9. In applying the hanger shown in this modification to a garment, the garment is fitted between the clamps 2 in the manner hereinhefore described, the free ends of 1.1 are passed through the lower ends of the clamps and drawn upwardly until the cloth is tightly wedged in place between 11 and the adjacent inclined surfaces of the clamps 2 The upper end of each of the members 11 may then be conveniently secured in place by inserting the same between the adjacent turns of the wire by which loops 9 are formed.

In Fig. 8, I have shown a modification of the mem-.

her 1 shown in Figs. 1 to 3. In said modification, member 1 is made from a piece of heavy wire of generally triangular shape, the sides being outwardly curved in the manner shown.

In Fig. 9 I have shown a construction wherein my hanger, or stretcher, may be conveniently combined with a coat hanger in such manner that the weight of the coat on the hanger will tend to spread apart the members which support the garment, thereby exercising a stretching action upon the same. In this figure, 12 represents the coat hanger, the same comprising a central loop 13 and side arms 14 for supporting the coat. The lower end of each arm 14 is turned inwardly and projects beyond the corresponding end of the opposite arm 14, being provided with a loop 15 which is adapted to receive the opposite arm and with an angular supporting arm 16 projecting downwardly from said loop. Clamps 2 are employed with arms 16 in any convenient manner. As shown, clamps 2 are applied to the'garment in the same manner as illustrated in the preceding figures, and the lower or horizontal ends of arms 16 are inserted between the oppo- It will be evident that,

tendency will be to separate the arms 16 and to exercise a stretching effect upon the garment supported thereby.

In Fig. 10 there is shown a still further modification, wherein the supporting members 17 are conveniently carried by an ordinary form of coat hanger.

In this case, the coat hanger is shown as of wood and is provided with a suitable number of inclined grooves 18 for the application of supporting wires 17 thereto. The upper ends of said wires are hooked, to enable them to be fitted over and supported by the hanger. The form of support produced by the inclined wire 17 is analogous to that shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 8. The diverging wires are inserted between the bottoms of the trousers legs and between the suitable portions of the clamps and will support the trousers in a manner similar to the support afforded by the former hangers.

There is represented in Fig. ll. :1 special form of clamp 2, which is similar to the clamp 2, but which is formed from an integral sheet of metal by bending the same to proper shape.

All of the modifications of the invention which have been disclosed herein present the idea of supporting the, trousers or other garment by means of two members, one of which is a clamp member adapted to receive between the legs or branches thereof suitable portions of the garment, and a member by means of which the garment may be wedged or retained in place between the clamps, assuring a firm support for the garment which will not crease or injure the same.

While I have illustrated my invention as applied to and adapted for hanging and stretching trousers, it. will be evident that it is applicable to other garments.

Now having described my invention I claim:

1. In a garment hanger the combination of a pair of clamps each having diverging legs or branches, and a supporting device cooperating therewith, said device having inclined sides adapted to be inserted between the diverging legs or branches of the clamps to force the material oi. the garment against the same, substantially as specified.

2. In a garment hanger, the combination of a pair of clamps each having diverging legs or branches, and :1 supporting device cooperating therewith, said device having inclined, rounded or beveled sides adapted to be inserted between the diverging legs or branches of the clamps to wedge the material of the garment against the same, substantially as specified.

3. In a garment hanger, the combination of a pair of clamps adapted to be applied to suitable portions of the garment and having each a pair of diverging legs or branches, and an angular support adapted to be applied to the garment with the inclined sides thereof inserted between the legs or branches of the clamps to force the material into engagement with said legs or branches and operate to stretch the garment, substantially as specified.

4. In a garment hanger and stretcher,'the combination of a pair of clamps adapted to be applied to suitable portions of the garment and having each a pair of diverging legs or branches, and an angular support adapted to be applied to the garment with the inclined sides thereof inserted between the legs or branches of the clamps, said sides being rounded or beveled to wedge the material into engagement with said legs or branches as well as to operate to stretch the garment, substantially as specified.

5. In a garment hanger and stretcher, the combination of a pair of clamp members each having diverging legs or branches adapted to receive between them suitable portions of the garment, an angular support: adapted to be inserted between the adjacent portions 01' the garment with opposite inclined portions thereof in engagement with the portions of the garment which are between the legs or branches of the clamp, said support being provided with suspending means located at one or more corners thereof.

6. In a garment hanger and stretcher, the combination of a pair of clamp members each having diverging legs or branches adapted to receive between them suitable pertions of the garment, a support adapted to be inserted between the adjacent portions of the garment, said support being in the shape of a triangle having rounded or beveled opposite inclined portions thereof in engagement with the portions of the garments which are between the legs or branches of the clamp, said support being provided with suspending means at one or more corners thereof, substantially as specified.

7. In a garment hanger, the combination of a pair of clamps having each diverging legs or branches, and a supporting member, said member having a pair of arms each adapted to be inserted between the legs or branches of a clamp to force the material of the garment against the same, substantially as specified.

8. In a garment hanger, the combination of a pair of clamps each having diverging legs or branches, and an angular supporting member, having inclined sides and an arm projecting from each of two of said inclined sides and adapted to be inserted between the legs or branches of the clamps to force the material of the garment there.

against, substantially as specified.

9. In a garment support and hanger, the combination of a supporting member comprising a pair of inclined sides each having an arm projecting laterally therefrom, and a clamp slidably mounted on each of said sides and having diverging legs or branches adapted to straddle the adjacent arm and force the material of the garment thereagainst, substantially as specified.

10. In a garment hanger, the combination of a pair of side members having each an arm projecting laterally therefrom, and a clamp mounted on each of said members and having legs or branches adapted to straddle the adjacent arm and cause said arm to force the material of the garment into contact with the legs or branches, substantially as specified.

11. A garment hanger comprising a pair of clamps each having diverging legs or branches, a hanging or supporting member provided with suitable suspending means and a pair of oppositely extending branches, each of said branches having a member adapted to be inserted between the legs or branches of a clamp to force the interposed portions of the garment into contact with the said legs or branches, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN H. WILLIAMS.

Witnesses:

J. B. HULL, CHAS. E. DANIEL. 

